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about us |
istanbul… is Turkey's
most populous city, and its cultural and financial center. Istanbul has a
population of 10,072,470 residents according to the latest count as of 2000,
and is one of the largest cities in Europe today. It is located on the Bosphorus Strait,
and encompasses the natural harbor known as the Golden Horn,
in the northwest of the country. It extends both on the European
(Thrace)
and on the Asian
(Anatolia)
side of the Bosphorus, and is thereby the only metropolis
in the world which is situated on two continents.
In its long history, Istanbul served as the capital city of the Roman Empire
(330-395), the Byzantine Empire (395-1204 and 1261-1453),
the Latin Empire
(1204-1261), and the Ottoman Empire (1453-1922). The city was
chosen as joint European Capital of Culture for 2010. The historic areas
of Istanbul were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985. Climate; The city has
a temperate-continental climate, with hot and humid
summers; and cold, rainy and often snowy winters. Humidity is generally
rather high which can make temperatures feel much warmer or colder than they
actually are. Cultural
activity, tourism and commerce are expected to remain important in the
life of the city. However, major challenges loom ahead, such as demographic
growth, traffic congestion, disorganized housing construction, the
restoration of historic buildings and the planning of a 3rd motorway transition
through the Bosphorus. Daily life in Istanbul is
colorful and vibrant and continues to bustle side by side with many carefully
protected Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman monuments. Istanbul is often
considered the capital of Turkey in terms of commerce, entertainment,
culture, education, shopping, tourism and art. More than half of the
population lives and works on the European side. The large number of people
living in the residential areas on the Anatolian side use bridges and ferries
to commute to work in a city that has been one of the most popular
destinations for voyagers throughout history. Istanbul
is becoming increasingly colorful in terms of its rich social, cultural, and
commercial activities. While world famous pop stars fill stadiums, activities
like opera, ballet and theater continue throughout the year. During seasonal
festivals, world famous orchestras, chorale ensembles, concerts and jazz
legends can be found often playing to a full house. The Istanbul International Film
Festival is one of the most important film festivals in Europe,
while the Istanbul Biennial is another major event of
fine arts. Live shows and concerts are hosted at a number of locations
including historical sites such as the Hagia Irene, Rumeli Fortress, Yedikule
Castle, the courtyard of Topkapı Palace, and Gülhane Park; as well as the
Atatürk Cultural Center, Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall and other open air and
modern theater halls. For those who enjoy night life, there are many night
clubs, pubs, restaurants and taverns with live music. The night clubs,
restaurants and bars increase in number and move to open air spaces in the
summer. The areas around Istiklal Avenue and Nişantaşı offer all sorts of
cafés, restaurants, pubs and clubs as well as art galleries, theaters and
cinemas. For more information you can check; http://english.istanbul.com/ |
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copyright © 2007 – itü içmimarlık bölümü website design & webmaster numanba@itu.edu.tr |
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